Rugby League World Cup fixture announced for Wrexham

22 March 2012

Wrexham’s famous Glyndŵr University Racecourse Stadium will play host to Wales vs USA at the 2013 Rugby League World Cup.

The tournament schedule for the 2013 Rugby League World Cup has been unveiled in Cardiff, with the announcement that the Group D match between co-hosts Wales and World Cup newcomers USA will take place in the town.

The Glyndŵr University Racecourse Stadium will also play host to a quarter-final match in the competition.

Wrexham will also be home to the Welsh national side during the competition, as both a team base camp and training venue in what promises to be the biggest and best World Cup yet.

The stadium is the world’s oldest international sporting ground currently in use and will host world cup matches for the second time after staging the Wales vs. Cook Island game during the 2000 Rugby League World Cup.

USA, who are nicknamed the Tomahawks, will compete in the Rugby League World Cup for the first time after defeating both Jamaica and South Africa to qualify for the competition.

The fixture will mark the second time the sides have met. They previously played each other in Philadelphia in June 1995, where Wales were 66 -10 winners. Since then, the game has gone from strength to strength in the US, with the development of a strong domestic league coupled with the great strides made by the national side, who are managed by former Bradford coach Matthew Elliot.

Lawrence Isted, Head of Community Wellbeing & Development at Wrexham Council, said:

“There’s been a lot of excitement building since the announcement that the Rugby League World Cup was coming to Wrexham.

“We are thrilled that the Wales team have chosen Wrexham for their training camp. The County Borough is home to world class sporting facilities, including the Queensway Sports Stadium, where the national side will be based.

“As well as being a tremendous sporting occasion, the tournament will bring welcome economic benefits to the region. Wrexham has a lot to offer in terms of hotels, restaurants, bars and leisure activities - all of which will receive a boost during the competition.

“We are also looking forward to welcoming the USA Tomahawks to Wrexham. They can expect a warm welcome from the people of Wrexham and North Wales. We are currently planning an exciting line up of events both in the lead up to and during the competition and we want everyone to feel part of this great occasion.”

Professor Michael Scott, Vice-Chancellor of Glyndŵr University, said:

"We are delighted that the Glyndŵr University Racecourse Stadium will host such a prestigious event. The stadium is a community facility and rapidly establishing itself as a key venue for professional rugby league – and as the leading venue in north Wales for world-class sports fixtures.

"The fact that it is Wales who will be playing makes it that extra bit special and I’m sure the people of Wrexham will turn out in force to support their home nation."

David Niu, president of The American National Rugby League said:

"The American National Rugby League is delighted to learn that the USA Tomahawks will be playing in Wrexham during the 2013 Rugby League World Cup.

“The team will be based in the Borough of Halton, and the Town of Widnes for the tournament, so we could not have asked for a better location to play Wales.

“As the pioneers of the sport of rugby league in the USA, we are well aware that Wales has produced many wonderful teams and players. In doing so, they must have enjoyed tremendous support and encouragement from the local community and fans.

“We hope that our Tomahawks might generate that same passion in the community to get behind our team and nation as we take part in our first ever Rugby League World Cup. We look forward to seeing you all soon. Go Tomahawks!”

The tournament will kick off at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff with a spectacular first day including the opening ceremony, host nation Wales taking on Italy and co-hosts England playing Australia.

Fourteen nations have qualified for the final stages, which will be broadcast to 120 countries around the world. They will play in four groups as follows: